This is my strawberry patch in a raised garden bed, which is a part of my property out here in the country. This bed has about 35 different strawberry plants. They will grow from June 1st all the way until the end of September.

Tips and secrets to grow

It’s important to grow your strawberries in soil with lots of straw- hence the name. Strawberries love straw. Why? First, straw keeps the berries from touching the soil, when strawberries touch soil they start to rot. Straw is also very good at holding moisture around the plant, helping to keep moisture at the roots.

Raised beds are also a necessity for strawberry growing, as they help prevent certain critters like rabbits from entering and eating your bounty.  However, a raised bed won’t stop the animals in the sky, use a tall garden accessory like this spinner below to prevent any hungry birds.

If you have a backyard that doesn’t have much space, use a container. Strawberries LOVE to grow in pots! Grow strawberries in a convenient flower pot, or you could even put them in hanging planters too.

Watering your strawberry plants will change based on the size of the container. If you are growing strawberries in a large garden, the roots have more soil around them so as a result the plant needs less water. However, if you are using a small container there is less soil so watering will need to be more consistent, but do not overwater. Overwatering strawberries will lead to big but tasteless fruit!

It’s also important to feed your strawberries the right nutrients. Fertilizer is a necessity. If you have a large garden bed, chicken poop (if you have it!) is excellent strawberry fertilizer, as it’s completely organic. Chicken poop adds a lot of flavour to strawberries, gross but true!

What to do once picked 

Once you pick your strawberries they should last about 4-6 days depending on freshness, to extend their life spray with lemon water.

Another option would be to freeze the strawberries on large sheet pans, that way when they freeze they will not freeze together in clumps. Once they are frozen, put into a freezer-proof bag and save for Jam and other baking needs!

Strawberry Jam Recipe

This is a great freezer jam, which is jam without preservatives!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups strawberries
• 4 cups sugar (depending on strawberries’ sweetness)
• 2 tsp. lemon juice

Blend all ingredients together be sure to leave room at the top of the jar for expansion. Then, put directly into the freezer This recipe is good for 1 month in the fridge once it’s thawed!